Pressure actuated anchor



March 23, 1967' v. c. ANDERSON ETAL 3,311,080 I PRESSURE ACTUATED ANCHOR Filed Sept. 2a, 1965 54 I is.

Fig. 2

)A/l E/VTO/PS VICTOR C. ANDERSON FREDERICK H. FISHER A TTOR/I/EI United States Patent Ofifice 3,31 1,089 Patented Mar. 28, 1967 The present invention relates to a pressure actuated anchor and more particularly to an anchor which is driven into an ocean bed by hydrostatic pressure.

Man has always been curious about the physical characteristics of the oceans. Until recently, however, there has been no real practical need to satisfy this curiosity. With the increasing capabilities of the submarine an urgent need has been established to know as much about the oceans as possible and consequently a considerable effort is now being spent in oceanographic research. It is noteworthy that this research not only supplies information important to the defense of our country but also provides valuable data to many concerns which are looking to mining operations within the oceans. In this research it is required that physical characteristics such as current, wave heights, tides, temperature and composition of the sea water be determined at many various locations within the ocean. Many of these undertakings require the use of measuring devices which must be firmly anchored at a particular location in the ocean.

Anchors presently in use are generally of three different types, namely, the conventional drag type anchor, the dead weight anchor and the propellent embedded anchor. The drag type anchor consists basically of a stem and flukes. When the anchor is drawn along the ocean floor the flukes are tilted at a downward angle and embed in the fioor to provide holding resistance to a connecting line. The holding power of the drag anchor is generally restricted to the direction in which it was drawn and there is only limited holding power in other directions. Another disadvantage of the drag type anchor is' that it must be dragged a considerable distance before it finally embeds in the ocean floor.

Dead weight anchors are masses of material which, when placed on the ocean floor, provide a resistance primarily to uplift and bearing forces. In order to provide the dead weight anchor with good horizontal holding power it must be made excessively large which materially increases the handling problem. Accordingly, this type of anchor has been generally confined for anchoring small objects.

The propellant embedded or explosive anchor includes an anchor which is driven into the ocean floor by an explosive charge. After firing, this type of anchor is usually set by applying an upward force on a connecting line so as to cause anchor flukes to open and embed in the ocean floor. One serious disadvantage of the propellant embedded anchor is the problem of handling the explosive charge. Extreme caution must be used to insure that this charge is not actuated in the vicinity of personnel prior to its drop in the ocean.

The present invention provides a simply constructed anchor which overcomes the problems of the aforementioned anchors. The present anchor utilizes the natural hydrostatic pressure of the ocean to supply the force required to drive the anchor in place. This has been accomplished by providing -a piston cylinder and a piston for driving a piston rod through the bottom of the cylinder into the ocean bed. A means is provided for retaining the piston and rod in an upward position in the cylinder until the anchor reaches the bottom of the ocean at which time the piston and rod are released so as to allow sea pressure to act on the piston and drive an anchor.

end of the rod in the ocean bed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simply constructed anchor which is actuable :by hydrostatic pressure;

Another object is to provide a simply constructed anchor which can be firmly driven into an ocean bed without the use of any explosives;

A further object is to provide an anchor which is easy to construct, can be easily operated, and which is selfdriving into the ocean bed to provide a strong hold for anchoring purposes;

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a support ship installing the pressu-re actuated anchor on the ocean bed;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the pressure actuated anchor;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a pressure actuated anchor with the anchor embedded in the ocean floor; and

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the details of the anchoring end of the piston rod.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like or similar parts throughout the several views there is shown in FIG. 1 the pressure actuated anchor 10 resting on the ocean bottom after being lowered by a support ship 12. As shown in FIG. 2 the pressure actuated anchor 10 includes a piston cylinder 14 which has a bottom 16 and an open top 13. Centrally located within the cylinder bottom 16 is an opening 20. A piston rod 22 slidably extends through the bot-.

tom opening 20 and is adapted at its bottom end to anchor in the ocean bed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the anchor end of the piston rod 22 may include an enlarged conical shaped driving head 24. Mounted on top of the head and on each side of the rod 22 are flukes 26 which are adapted to open up from the rod when a pulling force is applied after embedment. The flukes 26 may be pivotally mounted to the top of the conical driving head 24 by a pair of upstanding flanges 28 which may be welded to the top of the head. Extending through these flanges and a bottom solid end of each fluke is a pin 30 which may be secured in place by any suitable means such as weld ing or bolting at its ends. When the flukes are forced outwardly they will be restrained in a position substantially perpendicular to the rod 22 by a bearing action between the bottom end of the flukes and the top of the driving head 24, as shown in FIG. 3.

A piston 32 is slidably disposed within the piston cylinder 14 and is connected to the top of the rod 22. The piston 32 will be in an upward position, as shown in FIG. 2, and the interior of the cylinder 14 will be at atmospheric pressure when the anchor is lowered from the support ship 12. It is highly desirable that this atmospheric pressure be maintained as the hydrostatic pressure builds up around the cylinder upon lowering. This has been accomplished by providing an O ring 34 which is disposed in an annular groove within the piston 32 and an ring 36 which is disposed within an annular groove within the bottom opening 20. It is important that these 0 rings 'be capable of sealing the interior of the cylinder 14 from the hydrostatic pressure at anchor depth.

In order to develop an energy potential as the cylinder 14 is lowered a retaining and releasing means is provided. This means is connected to the piston cylinder 14 for retaining the piston 32 .and rod 22 in an upward position in the. cylinder 14 until the anchor reaches anchor depth and then releasing the piston and rod so as to allow hydrostatic pressure to act on the piston 32 and drive the anchor end of the rod 22 into the ocean bed. The retaining and releasing means may include the rod 22 and the bottom 16-of the cylinder at the opening Ieach having an annular groove 38 and 40 respectively which are located below the O ring 36. The

' cylinder bottom opening 20 may be counterbored below the annular groove 38 and a soluble plug 42 may be disposed within the counterbore and the annular grooves 38 and 40. The soluble plug 42 may be of any suitable material such as sugar or salt. It is desirable that the soluble plug be flush with the bottom 16 of the cylinder so that air will not be trapped in the bottom counterbore and prevent the soluble plug from dissolving. The annular grooves 38 and 40, the counterbore and the soluble plug 42 should be designed so that the soluble plug will dissolve a sutficient amount to release the rod 22 when the anchor 10 comes to rest on the ocean floor.

In order to place the anchor end of the rod 22 in position for firing a means is provided for supporting V the anchor on the ocean bed with the anchor end of the rod 22 above the ocean bed. As shown in FIG. 2 this support means may include a series of legs 44 which are welded to the bottom 16 of the cylinder.

As' shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a cable 46 may be employed for connecting the pressure actuated anchor 10 to the support ship 12. The cable 46 may be connected to the cylinder 14 by a ring 48 and a series of eyes 50 which are welded to a top edge of the cylinder 14. Short cables 52 may be connected between the eyes 50 and the ring 48 and the cable 46 is also connected to the ring 48 so'that upon lowering the anchor 10 it will be positioned centrally below the cable 46.

It is to be understood that when the pressure actuated anchor 10. comes to rest On the ocean bed and the plug 42 dissolves there will be a tendency'of the cylinder 14 to move upwardly because of the driving action of the rod 22 into the ocean bed. 'Any such movement by the cylinder 14 can be. overcome by an annular dampening plate 54 which is connected circumferentially about the exterior of the cylinder 14. Further, any upward movement of the cylinder 14 may be overcome by making its mass considerably greater than the mass of the rod 22 and piston 32.

In the operation of the pressure actuated anchor 10 the piston 32 and the rod 22 are positioned in the upward position within the cylinder 14 as shown in FIG. 2. The soluble plug'42 is then inserted within the annular grooves 38 and 40 and in the cylinder bottom counterbore to retain the upward position. Atmospheric pressure is now established within the cylinder 14 and will be maintained as the pressure actuated anchor 10 is lowered in the water to the ocean floor. When the anchor 10 comes to rest on the ocean floor it will be positioned similarly to that as shown in FIG. 2. At this time or shortly thereafter the soluble plug 42 will dissolve so as to release the rod 22 and allow the hydrostatic pressure to act on the piston 32.. The downward movement of the piston will drive the anchor end of the rod 22 int-o the ocean bed. After the anchor end of the rod 22 has been embedded in the ocean bed any upward force thereon will cause the flukes 26 to open, as shown in FIG. 3 so as to provide a good holding power.

It is to be noted that when the piston 32 is quickly driven downwardly by the hydrostatic pressure that it will not slam against the bottom of the cylinder 14 because of an equalization of ressure before it reaches this extent. This desirable action will prevent any damage to the components of the anchor.

It is now readily apparent that the present invention provides a pressure actuated anchor which obviates the disadvantages of prior art anchors. By utilizing the hydrostaic pressure of the ocean as a driving force the disadvantages of using an an explosive driving force has been overcome. The present anchor will provide excellent holding power, it is easy to operate and can be manufactured at a low cost.

We claim:

1. A pressure actuated anchor comprising:

a piston cylinder having a bottom and an open top, said bottom having a centrally located opening;

a piston rod slidably extending through the cylinder bottom opening and adapted at its bottom end to anchor in the ocean bed;

means between the cylinder bottom opening and the rod for sealing the interior of the cylinder from sea pressure at anchor depth;

a piston slidably disposed within the piston cylinder and connected to the top of said rod;

means between the piston and the cylinder for sealing the interior of the cylinder from sea pressure at anchor depth;

means connected to the piston cylinder for retaining the piston and rod in an upward position within the cylinder until the anchor reaches anchor depth and then releasing the piston and rod so as to allow sea pressure to act on the piston and drive the anchor end of the rod into the ocean bed;

the retaining and releasing means including:

said rod and the bottom of the cylinder at said opening each having an annular groove which are located below the first mentioned sealing means, the cylinder bottom opening being counterbored below the annular groove; and

a soluble plug disposed within the counterbore and the annular grooves;

means connected to the cylinder for supporting the anchor on the ocean bed with the anchor end of the rod above the ocean bed;

cable means connected to the cylinder for connecting the anchor to a support ship; and

an annular dampening plate connected to the exterior of the cylinder for dampening upward movement of the cylinder when the piston and rod are released.

2. A pressure actuated anchor comprising:

a piston cylinder having a bottom and an open top;

a piston rod slidably and sealably extending through the bottom of the cylinder adapted at its bottom end to anchor in the ocean bed;

a piston disposed within the piston cylinder and connected to said rod;

a soluble plug connected to the piston cylinder for retaining the piston and rod in an upward position within the cylinder until the anchor reaches anchor depth and then releasing the piston and rod so as to allow sea pressure to act on the piston and drive the anchor end of the rod into the ocean bottom;

the rod and bottom of the cylinder each have an annu lar groove; and

said soluble plug is disposed within the annular grooves.

3. A pressure actuated anchor as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

the cylinder bottom is counterbored below the annular groove of said cylinder bottom so that the counter-,

bore communicates with said annular groove; and said soluble plug is disposed within the counterbore 5 6 and the annular groove and is substantially flush with 3,071,787 1/1963 Burker 9318 the cylinder bottom Opening. 3,118,417 1/ 1964 Stanwick 114206 FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 225,013 8/1910 Germany.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,176,477 10 /1939 Varney et a1 1756 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner- 2,701,886 2/ 1955 Ivie 93 18 T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PRESSURE ACTUATED ANCHOR COMPRISING: A PISTON CYLINDER HAVING A BOTTOM AND AN OPEN TOP, SAID BOTTOM HAVING A CENTRALLY LOCATED OPENING; A PISTON ROD SLIDABLY EXTENDING THROUGH THE CYLINDER BOTTOM OPENING AND ADAPTED AT ITS BOTTOM END TO ANCHOR IN THE OCEAN BED; MEANS BETWEEN THE CYLINDER BOTTOM OPENING AND THE ROD FOR SEALING THE INTERIOR OF THE CYLINDER FROM SEA PRESSURE AT ANCHOR DEPTH; A PISTON SLIDABLY DISPOSED WITHIN THE PISTON CYLINDER AND CONNECTED TO THE TOP OF SAID ROD; MEANS BETWEEN THE PISTON AND THE CYLINDER FOR SEALING THE INTERIOR OF THE CYLINDER FROM SEA PRESSURE AT ANCHOR DEPTH; MEANS CONNECTED TO THE PISTON CYLINDER FOR RETAINING THE PISTON AND ROD IN AN UPWARD POSITION WITHIN THE CYLINDER UNTIL THE ANCHOR REACHES ANCHOR DEPTH AND THEN RELEASING THE PISTON AND ROD SO AS TO ALLOW SEA PRESSURE TO ACT ON THE PISTON AND DRIVE THE ANCHOR END OF THE ROD INTO THE OCEAN BED; THE RETAINING AND RELEASING MEANS INCLUDING: SAID ROD AND THE BOTTOM OF THE CYLINDER AT SAID OPENING EACH HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE WHICH ARE LOCATED BELOW THE FIRST MENTIONED SEALING MEANS, THE CYLINDER BOTTOM OPENING BEING COUNTERBORED BELOW THE ANNULAR GROOVE; AND A SOLUBLE PLUG DISPOSED WITHIN THE COUNTERBORE AND THE ANNULAR GROOVES; MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CYLINDER FOR SUPPORTING THE ANCHOR ON THE OCEAN BED WITH THE ANCHOR END OF THE ROD ABOVE THE OCEAN BED; CABLE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CYLINDER FOR CONNECTING THE ANCHOR TO A SUPPORT SHIP; AND AN ANNULAR DAMPENING PLATE CONNECTED TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE CYLINDER FOR DAMPENING UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CYLINDER WHEN THE PISTON AND ROD ARE RELEASED. 